Disney Dreamers Academy is moving to middle school students. Walt Disney World announced on September 29, 2026, that the youth program will expand into a year-round, multi-year experience through a new pilot with Boys & Girls Clubs for middle school Club members in the Orlando, Miami, Atlanta and Houston metropolitan areas.
For nearly two decades, Walt Disney World has selected 100 high school students from across the country each year for Disney Dreamers Academy. The first class of the new chapter will double that, with 200 middle school students selected by participating Boys & Girls Clubs. The class will be announced in October 2026, and programming begins in January 2027.
Why Disney Dreamers Academy Is Changing
The shift to middle schoolers came at the guidance of youth development experts, as the program approaches its 20th anniversary. The new format is designed to reach students earlier and keep them connected to the program over time.
“This next chapter is about meeting students where they are and helping them discover what’s possible for their future at an earlier age,” said Tajiana Ancora-Brown, Director of External Affairs at Walt Disney World. “By working alongside local Boys & Girls Clubs, we can reach more students and provide meaningful experiences that support their growth over time.”
The four cities were chosen based on Disney’s existing presence and relationships with families and organizations in those communities. The pilot will draw on the connections participating Clubs have with the young people and families they serve, bringing the program into trusted community spaces.
What The Boys & Girls Clubs Pilot Includes
Programming will take place in the communities where students live and at Walt Disney World, through a mix of virtual and in-person experiences. Students will join hands-on workshops led by Disney Cast Members and experts covering career paths from engineering to animal sciences, and will connect with Cast Member mentors and fellow Dreamers, including professionals whose backgrounds may reflect their own. Year-round activities are aimed at building confidence and leadership skills. The pilot also brings Disney experiences into local Clubs.
Disney will hold an October kickoff event in Orlando, followed by visits to Miami, Atlanta and Houston. Dates for those events have not been announced.
Walt Disney World will make an undisclosed investment across the participating Clubs over the program’s first two years, covering the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years.
“Programs like this create the exposure and opportunities that help our young people dream beyond their circumstances and see new possibilities for their future,” said Jamie Merrill, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. The Orlando-area Clubs were also among the nonprofits whose kids took part when Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon hosted nearly 600 children for the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson in June.
Disney is directing families to their local Boys & Girls Club to learn more about future opportunities, eligibility and program updates. Additional details about the program’s next chapter will be shared in the coming months.
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